Newcastle United striker Yoshinori Muto has revealed he turned down the chance to join Chelsea during is time in Germany.

Having made his name for FC Tokyo as a youngster, the 26-year-old headed to German side Mainz in 2015 on a four-year contract.

With Muto impressing for club and country following his switch to the Bundesliga, Rafael Benitez lured him to St James' Park in a £9.5million deal in July.

Potentially in line to make his first start for the Magpies this weekend when the Blues travel to St James' Park, the forward has explained that he had the opportunity to move to the capital while he was playing for Mainz.